Buying refurbished phones is getting quite famous, especially in India. Its affordability and versatility attracted several people, and the industry is blooming. But are they really worth buying? Are they the right option for you? Let’s find out in this guide below!
Refurbished Phones: Overview
A refurbished phone is a mobile that a company retrieves from its previous user due to any technical faults or defects. It checks for issues, resolves them, and re-sells the phone from a mobile store at lower prices. So, you can consider it a relaunch of a phone at a specific store that a random person has already used.
Since the phone’s condition at retrieval depends on the previous owner’s usage, the company works on them accordingly. So, we have three grades according to the damage that mobile has.
- Grade A or “Like New” is the top quality phone that is just like a brand new mobile, without damage or scratch.
- Grade B or “Perfect” is the second-best quality handheld. The next user can notice marks or scratches on the device, but they are not visible in plain sight.
- Grade C or “Nearly Perfect” is the lowest quality phone that has significant scratches and marks. It looks like the next owner has been using the phone for a long time, even if he/she bought it a couple of weeks ago.
Why Do People Buy Refurbished Phones?
The trend of purchasing refurbished phones has been blooming for some time due to several factors. It offers affordability, flexibility, versatility, diversification, and convenience. In this modern era, where having a smartphone is almost compulsory, refurbished phones are a breather for people with low incomes.
As they cannot invest too much in brand-new devices, they turn to refurbished mobiles as they fall in their pocket range. Moreover, since these phones are available at low prices, people can get the model they have an eye on but cannot afford it due to cost. With time and it’s (kinda) second-hand nature, they can get their dream phone with all its perks and features.
If you are turning to a refurbished phone due to immediate necessity and affordable solution, you can continue reading. However, if you are buying them just because your current phone is getting slower, we recommend checking these tips and tricks to make your Android run faster. Perhaps they might help, and you don’t spend money unnecessarily.
Benefits of Refurbished Phones
Refurbished mobiles are getting popular due to multiple reasons. They are affordable, durable, trustable, and help to save the environment. Below we have explained many of these advantages in detail:
-
Affordable
Since a person has used these mobiles earlier, they lose their worth and experience a price drop. Also, the old users have returned the cell phone due to any damage and fault, which means the phone is not in perfect condition. Although the manufacturing company repairs it, the phone still has some potential issues, which significantly reduce its cost.
Here, the affordability depends on the grade. If you are purchasing a Grade A phone in its mint condition, you will have to spend extra (still under the original release price). The sweet spot is buying Grade B refurbished phones as they still have the aesthetics while also costing less. However, you can save the most on Grade C.
-
Quality Assurance
Since the phone manufacturing company has repaired the damage or any issue by themselves, you can take a breath of relief as the quality will be top-notch. Even if the company is not involved, reputable organizations or platforms work on the devices to make them flawless.
So, you can expect brilliant quality from the provider. Moreover, the damage repair is satisfactory, meaning the issue won’t return in the near future. So, buying a refurbished smartphone is even better than purchasing the same device from a user directly second-hand, as it can have potential defects.
-
Warranty
Another amazing benefit of having a refurbished phone is warranty assurance. When you get a phone from an old user, they don’t provide you with any warranty. However, in the other case, a company has worked on the device to remove all the flaws, especially technical or software errors. So, they are sure the phone won’t cause you any trouble until said duration.
The platforms and brands sell these smartphones as new mobiles, with some tweaks and finetunes. So, they attach a warranty like launching a new model. The difference is that it is only available in a specific shop, without any official announcement.
-
Environmentally Friendly
Purchasing a renewed device plays a crucial role in saving the environment. When the first owner returns the mobile, it doesn’t get into the landfills. Instead, the company fix any errors and sell it to somebody else. That somebody else, who may have bought a new device, purchases the phone, using the resources and helps in lowering e-waste production.
Moreover, when the company sells a reconditioned mobile, they consume less energy in dismantling and recycling the phone. Hence, the process contributes tremendously to reducing the carbon footprint and emission of greenhouse gases. Furthermore, it produces low waste for landfills or incineration.
Limitations
While purchasing a refurbished smartphone is beneficial in many aspects, it also has some limitations that you should consider before buying one. Some of those are mentioned below:
-
Possibly Defected
Although the company has removed most of the defects, the phones still have some irreparable damages, like scratched back covers with deeper grooves. As we mentioned earlier, these smartphones have three categories, where the Grade B & C are with minor or major damages, respectively. So, you may encounter some damages after buying.
-
Limited Warranty
The main advantage of getting a renewed phone from the company over a used one from a previous user is a warranty. However, the companies cannot give you warranties of three or four years like the new models. They are usually a year or even less, like six months. So, you may have the warranty, but it won’t be longer.
-
Battery
With time, the battery is degraded due to chemical changes. Since the mobile comes to you after a previous user, you don’t know how good or bad he has used it. So you may experience a shorter battery span. On the other hand, even if they’ve used the battery perfectly, you may need to replace it after a few months or years since the cell has already spent a lot of time in the phone since manufacturing.
Best Platforms to Buy Refurbished Phones
Till now, you’ve had the big picture of buying a refurbished mobile. And if you want to get a smartphone, the next step is where you can get them. Below is a short list of top platforms where you can buy such mobiles at great prices.
Amazon
Amazon is the leading tycoon in the e-commerce world. On the one hand, you can get new devices, it is also a great place to buy refurbished items. Smartphones are no exception. Several companies sell their renewed mobile phones at low prices due to competition and the high visibility of the platform.
Quick Mobile
Quick Mobile is also an amazing site to buy refurbished mobiles at reasonable costs. The team offers smartphones from various brands, like Apple, Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Nokia, and many more. All the phones have a high warranty and come with all the accessories in the box.
Cashify
Lastly, we have Cashify, with several stores successfully working in India. The website also has a unique yet user-friendly design that helps people to easily navigate to the right page, such as refurbished phones. Moreover, the platform puts several discounts on prices on various occasions. So, don’t miss to visit the site near any special event.
Final Verdict
So, after all the debate, it’s time to answer your question. Is buying refurbished phones really worth it? The short answer is yes, they are. However, it depends on your usage and preferences. If you want an affordable solution for the short term or looking for a high value-for-money ratio, refurbished phones are great. But if you want a durable mobile that has no defects or damage, you can spend money on a new phone.
